Reports on Research Surveys by Year

June 2-6, 2012

The 3rd Survey of Siebold-related Documents in the Brandenstein Family Collection

Conducted by National Museum of Japanese History (Miyasaka, "Alexander and Heinrich Team")

Locations surveyed: Brandenstein Castle (Schlüchtern, State of Hesse, Federal Republic of Germany)

Participants: Masahide Miyasaka (Nagasaki Junshin Catholic University), Hiroshi Kurushima (NMJH), Reiji Iwabuchi (NMJH), Toru Katsuta (NMJH)

High-resolution digital photographs were taken of un-surveyed personal communications by Alexander and Heinrich von Siebold held by the Brandenstein Family from June 2-5. At the same time, photographs were also taken of select artifacts in the Family's collection related to their father Philipp Franz von Siebold when high-resolution photographs were thought necessary.

A total of about 4,000 shots of Brandenstein Family documents were taken this year. Nearly all the newly discovered letters by the brothers Alexander and Heinrich were photographed during the current survey.

(Text: Miyasaka)